Variety reports that American Idol" mania continued Wednesday, as the season's second episode of Fox's hugely popular music talent show held onto about 95% of its premiere-night audience, taking a bite out of ABC's "The Bachelorette."

Head-to-head, "Idol" easily defeated ABC's "The Bachelorette" (6.0/14 in adults 18-49, 13.39 million), which fell to a season low. ABC made a late switch to expand the episode to 90 minutes in an attempt to blunt "Idol," but that backfired as the 8:30 half-hour pulled in just a 4.2/10 in adults 18-49. "Bachelorette" held up better from 9 to 10, with its 18-49 average that hour (6.9/16) off 19% from the previous week's score (8.5/20).

Both shows skewed female, accounting for a combined 55% of the women 18-34 watching television from 8:30-10. "Idol" surged to an amazing 47 share in female teens, including a 50 share in its final hour.